Zardes to sign Homegrown contract with the Galaxy

Zardes to sign Homegrown contract with the Galaxy

Sources close to the negotiations have told the LA Galaxy Insider that the club will sign Cal-State Bakersfield forward Gyasi Zardes to a Homegrown contract.

Considered the top prospect in college soccer, the 6-foot-2 forward from Hawthorne starred for the Roadrunners scoring 38 goals, tallying 18 assists in 56 games over his three year stint at CSUB. In 2012, Zardes scored 15 goals in 17 matches with nine assists—the highest amount of his career. The 21-year-old, who was born to parents with Brazilian roots, will be the fifth Homegrown signing in club history and the fourth currently on the team joining Jack McBean, Oscar Sorto and Jose Villarreal.

During his three years in Central California, Zardes earned countless accolades including being named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Offensive Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. Zardes was also named to the 15-man short-list for the Hermann Trophy (college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy) after the 2011 season.

Zardes was a staple for the Galaxy Academy set up from 2008 through 2010, playing for the Galaxy Under-18’s and Under-20’s.